Just seems mandelson has out done himself this time, bet that summer trip with his music industry buddies helped, no bias there.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...Charities-face-20m-tax-for-playing-music.html
Village hall dances and other charity events face a new £20 million tax after Lord Mandelson scrapped an opt-out which allowed voluntary organisations to play music
Such payments have soared in recent years, following an aggressive campaign by the main licensing organisation, PRS for Music, formerly the Performing Right Society, which demands that licenses are obtained for any workplace where music is played on a radio, CD or cassette player.
Some shopkeepers have complained of being hounded with threatening letters demanding money when they haven't even got a radio or CD player in their store.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...Charities-face-20m-tax-for-playing-music.html